Motor vehicle



Aug. ll, 1931. A. MooRHousE IOTQR VEH I CLE Filed Nov. 6I 1925 IIIIIHHHMnnnmunmuam Gramm,

Patented Aug. ll, 1931 UNITED srA'rEs PATENT ori-fica mm HOORHOUII. Ol'DETROIT, KICHIGLN, LBSIGNOB -TO4 PACKARD KOTOR CAB OOIPANY, OF DETROIT,IICHIGAN. A CORPORATION OP HICHIGAN KOTOR VEHICLE Application liedlovember This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly tomeans for supporting the fuel tank on the frame and for in icat-ing theweight of the tank or the amount of fuel in I the tank.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device on a motor vehicle for indicating the amount ofgasoline in the tank.

l Another object of the invention is to provide a support for a fueltank that may be used to actuate a gauge that will indicate the weightof a tank and consequently the amount of uel therein.

ll Another object of the invention is to provide such` an indicatingdevice which will not be affected by surges in the gasoline caused b ymovements of the vehicle, or other fluctua tions in level in the tank,and which will not N beaiected by changes in temperature.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawings, which forms a part ofthis specification, and in which:

1 is a view, partially in side elevation and partiall in section, of aportion of a motor vehic e chassis showing the applica.- tion of theinvention thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rear portion of I0 the chassis shown inFig. 1;\ p

Fig. 3' is an enlarged side view of the rear end of the chassis frame,partially broken awa and partially in section substantially ont e line3-3 of Fi. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarge detail section substantially on the line 4--4 ofFig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, at is shown a portion of a motor vehiclechassis having a frame comprising side members 11 connected by crossmembers 12, which frame is su ported by springs 13 from the vehicle axes 14 in the usual manner. The rear frame cross member 12 is preferablyof tubular construction, the other cross members being of the usualchannel section. Toward the forward end of the chassis, the vehicle isprovided with appropriate steering apparatus 16 and controls 17, and isalso usually equip ed with a dash 18v from which is suple porte aninstrument board 19, arranged in e, im. semiy im. mm. e

position infront of the vehicle driver and adapted to su port variousindicating instruments,fone o which is the gauge of the fuel tankindicator` provided in the present iiiff vention.

At the near tank 21 containing fuel said tank and fuel constituting, aload usual way etweenthe side frame members 11 and the -two rear crossmembers 12, which tank is preferably hinged or otherwise pivot-l abracket 24, is a hydrostatic pressure 'device' 26, which is mounted in asupport 27 having a reduced upper portion or neck 28 and a removablebottom plate 29 secured to the support in any convenient manner as bymeans of the bolts 31. The neck 28 is adapted to support a removablebushing 32 which may be adjustably mounted therein as clearly indicatedin Fig. 4, and within this bushing is supported a cylinder 33 forming anexpansion chamber 34 and provided with an integral bottom plate 36. Theplate 36 is provided, axially of the cylinder, with an orifice 37 havinga bore of relatively small diameter.

Between the plates 29 and 36, within the support 27, is arranged a pairof collapsible pressure chambers 38 and 39, which are preferably of themetal bellows or sylphon type and which are disposed in series, end toend. These chambers are of different capacities, the upper chamber 38being of smaller volume than the lower chamber 39, and they areseparated by a plate or yclosure'41 to which each of them is attached.This plate is provided with an aperture or orifice 42 of a diametercomparable to that of the orifice 37 and which communicates with each ofthe chambers. The plate 41 is rigidly connected to the arm 23 of thefuel tank in any conend ofthe chassis is a suitable" body arranged inthey venient manner so as to partakeA of up and 38, causing a decreaseof pressure in the lowdown motion of the tank. er chamber and anincrease of pressure in the The up er end of the cylinder 34 is closedupper chamber. This increase of pressure by a suitable plug 43,communicating with a in theupper chamber will not be rapidly 5 pipe 44which extends to any convenient communicated to the column of fluid inthe 70 point on thevehicle but preferably to the expansion chamber 34 byreason of the reinstrument board 19, as clearly indicated in sistance-ofthe orifice 37, but it will be more Fig. 1. This pipe 44 terminates in apresrapidly communicated to the lower chamber sure gauge 46 which may beof any suitable 39 through the orifice 42 because of the drop 1oconstruction but which is preferabl of the of pressure in the lowerchamber. Sudden 75 Bourdon type in which a curved flexible tube changesin pressure caused by such move- 47 is adapted to be straightened4 byfiuid ments of the tank will not, therefore,becom pressure to which itis subjected; the resultmunicated'to the gauge 46 and cause fluctuamgmovement being indicated b asipointer tions of the needle 48. On theother hand a 48 connected to the tube 47 and p aying over gradualincrease of pressure, such as would so a suitable scale 49. The gauge 46closes the obtain during filling of the tank 21, will be 4 end of the pie 44v and is adapted to indicate readily communicated through theapertures in an suitable units the hydrostatic presto the gauge. Y sureeveloped therein. It will also be apparent that changes in The systemcomprising the device of this temperature of the system, causing anexinvention, including the two chambers 38 pension of the fluid in thechambers 38 and and 39, and the expansion chamber 34, is 39 and the pipeline 44, while they cause a com letely filled with some inexpansiblechange in the volume of the contents of the fluidi? such as oil, and thepipe line 44 and the system do not cause a change in the pressure z5gauge are filled with some fluid having a low therein. Such an increasein volume as freezing point, for example alcohol. In the would be causedby a rise in temperature of operation of the device a force,correspondthe s stein, would simply mean that the ing to the weight ofthe tank 21 and the gasocham rs 38 and 39 would be expanded, and linecontained therein, is exerted upon the the tank 21 would be carried at aslightly 3o flexible bellows by the arm 23 to compress higher lever, thereading on the gauge 46 not g5 the lower chamber 39 and elongate theupper being affected in any Way. chamber 38. Since the lower chamber isof It will be understood that various forms greater capacit than theupp'r chamber, a of the invention other than those described movement ofuid takes place throu h the above may be used without departing fromaperture 42 until the ressure of the uid in the spirit or scope of theinvention. 100 these chambers is ba anced. v rlhis pressure Having thusdescribed the invention, what is also communicated through the orifice37 is claimed and desired to be secured by Letto the fluid in theexpanslon chamber 34, ters Patent is: thence to the liquid or gascontained in the 1. In a motor vehicle having a supporting 40 conduit 44and the flexible tube 47 of the frame and a fuel tank,the combination ofa 105 gauge 46. Accordingly, a corresponding hydrostatic pressureresponsive device commovement of the pointer 48 is produced in a prisingexpansible chambers of different manner well understood. The scale 49may capacities, a plate between the chambers havbe calibrated to readdirectly in gallons of ing an aperture connecting the chambers,

d'5 gasoline or in any other convenient unit, so sai device beingconnected between the no that the position of the pointer 48 thereonframe and the tank, pressure transmitting will directly indicate theamount of fuel in means connected to one of the chambers at the tank 21.It is the reaction of this presone end, and a remote indicating meansconsure acting throu h the arm 23, which supnected to the other end ofthe transmitting 50 ports the weight o the tank. means. 1m

Any sudden change of pressure in the 2. In a motor vehicle havingasupporting chambers 38 and 39, such as wouldbe caused frame and a fueltank mounted to move by surging of fuel in the tank, or violentmothereon lin response to gravity, the combination of the'tankas thevehicle travels over tion of a hydrostatic pressure responsive deroughroad, will not, however, be communivice between said frame and said tankin- 12o cated through the pipe 44 to the gauge 46, cluding a plateadapted to move with the since such sudden changes in the pressure tankand having an aperture therein, exwill be effectively throttled anddamped out pansible chambers of different capacities supbecause of thesmall cou ling afforded beported by the frame and' connected b said 00tween the chambers 34 andp 39, and by the oriaperture, the smallerchamber being adapted 125 iices 37 and 42. For example a sudden upto becompressed upon upward movement of ward movement of the tank 21 aboutits pivthe tank and the larger chamber upon downotal support22 will tendto effect an elongaward movement thereof, an ex ansion chami tion of thelower chamber 39 and a correber secured tothe frame an connected tospending contraction of the upper chamber said smaller chamber by anaperture in the 1;.)

wall a e` frame and a fuel tank, the combination of a device forindicating the amount of fuel in the tank comprising a hydrostaticcgressure system having opposed collapsible embers of differentcapacities connected by a -re stricted orifice and sup orted from theframe, a connection between e tank and the juncture of the chambers, agauge connected to one of the chambers through another restrictedorifice, and fluid under pressure in the system. v

4. In combination, a motor vehicle including a frame and a'tank mountedat one side on the frame to move in use to avit a supgrt secured to saidframe, cola sib e cham rs of unequal volume mounte in series in saidsupport and secured thereto at their outer en a late between saidchambers secured to t e inner ends thereof and connected to the'fueltank to move therewith with respect to the support, said late having anorifice communicating with th chambers, a pipe having an expansionchamber connected by an oriliceI to the u per chamber, and a pressuregauge moun on 'the vehicleconnected tosaid pi lt5. A device'forindicating t e amount of fuel in the tank of a motor vehicle at a pointon said vehicle removed from the tank, com- Pl'lmg' a fluid pressuredevice inclu coaxial exible chambers adapted to (zx-mom the weight ofthe tank and fuel -into Huid;

pressure, a flow device between said chambers, a pipe connected to oneof the chambers, a second -ow device between the pipe and said chamber,and a pres' sure responsive gauge connected to said ipe.

6. In combination with amotor vehic e including a tank, a fluid pressuredevice for indicating the amount o fuel in the tank -at a ,point on saidvehicle removed from the tank, comprising means connected to said tanktoconvert the weight of the tankand contents to duid pressure, means totransmit said pressure, a pressure indicating device operable by saidpressure and connected to the transmitting means, andl throttlingdevices associated with said first named means to check surges in thepressure fluid in said m'eans.

7. In a motor vehiclehaving a frame and a tank supported on the frame tomove with respect thereto, auid pressure device for in- 'dicatin theamount of fuel in the tank at the das of the vehicle comprising meansarbetween the tank andthe vehicle lto siptplort the tankand to convertthe weight o 'tioned means extending to vehicle dash, ,and a pressureindicating ga on said dash 4.connected to the end of the pipe to closethe device, said gauge being responsive. to uuid.

pressure changes therein.

8. In a motor vehicle, aranged between said tank and the vehicle' tosupport the tank and to` convert the'weight of the tank and contentsinto {iuid pressure, said means having pressure chambers ofi-differentca acity, a throttling device between the cham ers adapted to preventsurges of pressure therebetween, ressure indicatin means .connected toone oFsaid chambers,an throttling means between the chamber` and saidindicating means.

9. In combination with an indicating device, a fuel tank movable about ahorizontally offset axis, opposed pressure chambers connected by anorifice and ada ted to be actuated by' movement of the tan an expansionchamber connected to one of said pressure chambers b an orifice, andmeans including an extende conduit for indicating the pressure in thedevice connected to said expansion chamber.

10. In a motor vehicle a tank and a dash, a fluid ressure indicatingdevice, said device includinga pressure gauge mounted on said dash,means arranged between saidl tank and the vehicle to vert the weight oiiuid pressure, said means having pressure chambers of dierent capacityadapted to prevent an increase in -luid pressure at said gauge when thetemperature of theA fuel varies, and means connecting said gauge tooneofsaidchambers.. v f- 11. In combination in an indicatin system, asupport, a pair of extensible and contractable chambers of differentcapacities, each of said chambers having one end fixed to said sup saidmova e ends having a common closure provid a conn 'on between thechambers.

12. Incombinatioma support subjected to vibration, a vessel pivoted atone side to said support, an arm on said vessel adapted to4 movetherewith, and means engaging said arm comprising flexible chambersconnected by a restricted oriiice and having liquid under pressuretherein to dampen vibration of said vessel. i c

In testimony whereof I aiix m si ture.

. ALFRED MOOR O SE.

e tank and contents into fluid pressure, i

means including throttling devices for said fluid to prevent suddenmovements of the tank from creating surges of pressure inthe devices, apipe connected to said iirst menwith a restricted orifice aording tank,means ar-` support the tank and to conthe tank and contents into rt andthe other end movable,

iis'

